Showing signs of continued recovery, the country's automobile industry today reported an 8.09 per cent rise in its overall vehicle sales in May, 2008.

According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, the domestic passenger car sales registered a growth of 14.26 per cent, while total two-wheeler sales were up by seven per cent in May this year.

The passenger car segment clocked sales of 1,10,743 units during the month, against 96,923 units in the same month a year ago, SIAM said.

Total domestic vehicles sales stood at 8,52,872 units, against 7,89,041 units in the same month last year.

Segment leader Maruti [Get Quote] Suzuki India's sales grew by 16.13 per cent to 57,315 units, against 49,354 units in the same month in 2007.

Rival Hyundai Motors sold 24,506 units during the month, against 16,617 units last year, up 47.48 per cent.

Tata Motors [Get Quote], however, recorded a flat growth at 14,228 units, against 14,217 units in the same month previous year.

General Motors India had a 6.12 per cent jump in its sales at 3,847 units, compared to 3,625 units last year.

Industry experts opined that the overall automobile industry would continue to grow this year despite high interest rates, and finance availability continuing to be a major issue.

"Changing from negative to positive is great thing. We will see growth throughout the year and expect to touch the figures of 2006," SIAM Director General Dilip Chenoy said.

In the car segment, the industry has been witnessing steady growth in the last two years, he added.

Total two-wheeler sales in the month rose by seven per cent at 6,47,358 units, compared to 6,05,014 units in the same month last year, SIAM said.

On the motorcycles front, however, the sales jumped by 7.39 per cent at 5,13,209 units, against 4,77,901 units during the year-ago month.

"The real heat is on the two-wheelers as the banks have stopped lending for this segment. Cars are little better as banks target a select category of consumers," Chenoy said.

In May 2006, the industry witnessed sales of 5,71,367 motorcycle units, which declined 16.36 per cent in the same month during 2007, he added.

Motorcycle market leader Hero Honda Motors [Get Quote] registered sales of 2,97,387 units, against 2,69,532 units in the same period during 2007, up 10.33 per cent.

Rival Bajaj Auto [Get Quote], however, recorded a marginal increase at 1,30,068 units, against 1,29,724 units last year. TVS [Get Quote] Motor's sales also remained flat at 41,901 units as compared to 41,724 units in the same month last year.

In the scooters segment, total sales were up 6.36 per cent at 97,905 units, against 92,048 units.

Scooter market leader Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India registered sales of 55,858 units, against 54,601 units, up 2.30 per cent, while Hero Honda Motors pushed its sales by 15.81 per cent at 9,422 units from 8,136 units in the same month last year.

Suzuki Motorcycle India, the new entrant in the segment during the month, sold 6,623 units.

Pune-based Kinetic [Get Quote] Motor recorded a growth of 8.38 per cent at 2,754 units, against 2,541 units last year.

Total two-wheeler sales in the month rose by seven per cent at 6,47,358 units, compared to 6,05,014 units in the same month last year, SIAM said.

On the motorcycles front, however, the sales jumped by 7.39 per cent at 5,13,209 units, against 4,77,901 units during the year-ago month.

"The real heat is on the two-wheelers as the banks have stopped lending for this segment. Cars are little better as banks target a select category of consumers," Chenoy said.

In May 2006, the industry witnessed sales of 5,71,367 motorcycle units, which declined 16.36 per cent in the same month during 2007, he added.

Motorcycle market leader Hero Honda Motors registered sales of 2,97,387 units, against 2,69,532 units in the same period during 2007, up 10.33 per cent.

Rival Bajaj Auto, however, recorded a marginal increase at 1,30,068 units, against 1,29,724 units last year. TVS Motor's sales also remained flat at 41,901 units as compared to 41,724 units in the same month last year.

In the scooters segment, total sales were up 6.36 per cent at 97,905 units, against 92,048 units.

Scooter market leader Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India registered sales of 55,858 units, against 54,601 units, up 2.30 per cent, while Hero Honda Motors pushed its sales by 15.81 per cent at 9,422 units from 8,136 units in the same month last year.

Suzuki Motorcycle India, the new entrant in the segment during the month, sold 6,623 units.

Pune-based Kinetic Motor recorded a growth of 8.38 per cent at 2,754 units, against 2,541 units last year.